Starting strong, then finishing with a flurry helped Jessica Carafiello make quite an impression in her first appearance in the Lincoln Women's Met Open Championship.

Carafiello, an assistant golf professional at Innis Arden Golf Club in Greenwich, kept her poise after being five shots off the lead following the opening round of last week's tournament (June 30-July 1) at Waccabuc (N.Y.) Country Club -- then she promptly took the trophy.

Shooting a 3-under-par 139 over 36 holes, Carafiello rallied to win the Women's Met Open Championship -- the Met PGA's most prestigious event -- by three strokes.

An Eastchester, N.Y., native, the 30-year-old Carafiello shot a 1-under-par 70 in the first round, then went one lower in the second, carding a 2-under 69. Liz Caron, a Stamford resident representing The Golf Club of Purchase, placed second at even-par 142, along with Harin Lee (Bethpage State Park Golf Club). Caron was the first-round leader, posting a 6-under-par 65.

"Going into the tournament, I thought that if I could put two solid rounds together I would have a legitimate chance of winning," Carafiello said. "After the first round, I thought I left some birdies out there, so heading into the second round I thought about what holes I could be more aggressive on. I took advantage of some opportunities I had in the second round and went after all the par 5s that were reachable in two."

Carafiello sank birdie putts on the par-4 third hole, the par-5 10th hole and the par-5 14th hole. She ended the final round with a birdie on No. 18 (par-4).

"On 18 when I holed out, I realized I had a chance to win," said Carafiello, whose winner's purse totaled $4,000. "I happened to look at the leaderboard on No. 14 and I saw that I was two shots ahead, but I knew I couldn't get comfortable. I felt great that I was in the lead, but I knew I still had to stick to my game plan."

The tournament marked the first time Carafiello played at Waccabuc, an aspect she's become accustomed to over the years.

"I don't mind playing courses for the first time at events like that," Carafiello said. "You don't think as much and basically, you just look at the target and hit it there. At Waccabuc, I felt the course was laid out there in front of you, I felt very comfortable out there. To win the most respected Met championship -- I'm honored. I was disappointed in how I played in some other events this season, I haven't really finished the tournaments very well. So I was excited to finish up strong in this one."

Carafiello's golf career didn't begin until after she moved to Coral Springs, Fla., as a 14-year-old. After flourishing on the junior circuit, she earned a four-year scholarship to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla., where she recorded 13 top-10 finishes and was selected as a member of the 2001 Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman Team and the 2004 Atlantic Sun All-Conference Second Team. She turned pro in 2005, played on the LPGA Symetra Tour for seven years and also competed on the CN Canadian Women's Tour. The 2011 season saw her capture the Colorado Women's Open.

While competing as a touring pro, Carafiello worked toward becoming an LPGA teaching professional -- a role she has a special affinity for.

"I realized I appreciated teaching a lot more than playing for myself," said Carafiello, who learned her craft under Hall-of-Famer Bob Toski. "Seeing the joy and excitement my students experience after hitting a good shot and reaching a goal -- that's what makes my job so much fun."

She arrived at Innis Arden in Greenwich in April after serving as an assistant pro at Farmington Country Club (Charlottesville, Va.) and the Heron Bay Golf Academy (Coral Springs, Fla.).

"A female pro let me know there was an opening and I was just in the right place at the right time," said Carafiello, who works on Innis Arden head professional Gary Murphy's staff. "I love it here at Innis Arden and I'm very appreciative of the opportunity that was presented to me. We have a great membership here and Gary Murphy is so supportive of all the professional staff."

Murphy gave Carafiello a couple of pointers which she applied at the Met Open Championship.

"He helped me with my chipping and gave me a little hint that made a difference in my distance control," Carafiello, who placed second at last year's LPGA Teaching and Club Professional National Championship in Braselton, Ga. "He's a great leader and I've already learned so much from him."

The next big event for Carafiello is the Wegmans LPGA Championship at Monroe Golf Club in Pittsford, N.Y. (Aug. 14-17).

"Hopefully, I can make a good showing there and continue to play well," she said. "I can't wait for my next event."